The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-07-15
a SLAVE OF BACCHUS.
n Story Founded on Facrs.
INTRODUCTION.

the year 1888. We were talking about my
friends alma mater, Yale, of that phenom-
enon of the alumni Joseph Cook, who was
at the time delivering the years course of
his famous Monday lectures. We were re-
viewing his cosmopolitan lecture and dis
cusslng on our own hook, the Andover de-
parture. We were passing one ofthe large
hotels when my companion laid his hand
on my arm and said:
"Listen!'
In a moment l became aware that some
one was playing on a piano near by with
great power and exquisite tenderness.
"Who can it be?" I said.
81 will show you,'' answered my COM
panion.
We went down a side street where we
had full view of the bar-room, and through
the window saw at the farther end of the
room a middle aged man with bloated face
and disheveled hair, sitting at a piano.
His head was thrown back, and he scarce
ly seemed to look at the keys; he was not
even looking at the wall before him; but
away beyond the brick walls, beyond the
city around him and the sky above, into
the realm of fancy.
"Who is he?'' l asked again.
81 will tell you when we get to our room;
but let's go in and hear him."
He played awhile and then stopped and
burst into tears. His companions crowded
around him to persuade him to sing to
them, many of whom would have been
crazy with drink but for the magic in
nucnce of the player.
After a little he seemed to regain his
will, and after a prelude broke out into a
strong. clear and sweet tenor. 1t was a
ballad he was singing and he seemed to
put his whole life into it, and the pathos
brought tears and sobs from many OF his
hearers.
During the second verse tears began to
roll down his own cheeks, his voice was
choked with sobs and at the end of the
fourth stanza he was unable to proceed,
and he was dragged away to a couch.
AT this i%uncture we FASTENED out.
PART /.
PAT o'RILEY.
We went through the streets in silence,
each of us busy with our thoughts OF the
wonderful singer. AT last, WI reached our
room, and when we had donned slippers
and ~dressing-gown, and had sat down by
the open CRATE, | sued for the promised
tale; burt my friend seemed disinclined and
gloomy. 1t was a sad sight to see so tai
ented a man reduced by strong drink to
almost the level of a brute.
We were silent for some time when |
broke the silence again by asking who he
might be, and where he had become ac-
quaintcd with him?
My friend answered that his name was
Patrick O'Rney, commonly called Pat, for
short; that he was not personally acquaint-
cd with him, but that he had known Of
him for at least two years, and hearing his
story from his companions had become in
terested in him. He had accidentally be-
come acquainted with the father of the I'M
fortunate man, an old Irish porter, and had
learned his early history.
Joe. that was my friends NAME, seemed
at length to have regained his cheerfulness
of mind, and began to relate O'Riley's his
tory of his own accord.
II will begin with the old mans story
of Pats ~boyhood."
sgprI,o f,ntIy no mo from, t1n county nj
Limerick, Ireland, and seemed to have
been primitive ~land-holders among the
boys of that country, which gave them but
a scanty subsistence. Mr.. O'Riley's fam
iy consisted of some dozen children of
which Patrick is the youngest. When
O'Riley's eldest son was fourteen years of
age he went to sea, visiting America, and
on returning the following year told such
father, and his whole family, emigratcd
and came to this city about the time that
Patrick was born. He has lived here ever
since, earning a living as a day laborer.
"Patrick, at an early age, showed a great
talent for music. When he was five or six
years old he was frequently hired for a few
pennies, by the ~neighboring market-men
to sing to them. His musical talent be-
camc acknowledged among his acquaint-
anccs, and when he was ten years old he
was employed to sing in the cathedral in
which his parents worshipped.
"This was a golden opportunity to Pat
| rick. He was petted, praised and encour-
aged, which resulted in q few years in his
taking lessons in vocal and instrumental
music, and also in musical composition.
"When about twenty years of age he
began life as a music teacher and ballad
singer in concerts. So much success did
he achieve in the latter branch that in
about a year he obtained an engagement IN
an opera and here a brilliant career opened
to aim. For several years the young man
| striyed with his voice, and had the salts
| faction OF becoming one of the best tenors
In this country. He also had composed
some music, both vocal and instrumental,
which promised to be popular.
ssAbout this time an event happened
which changed his future course and pro-
duced the wreck you have seen tonight.
cat this time he was engaged in an